2.—(1) If, in the opinion of the F21[appropriate Minister], it is in the public interest that a lease shall be made to any person of any foreshore belonging to F22[the State], F23[that Minister] may, subject to the provisions of this Act, demise by deed under his official seal such foreshore with the buildings and other structures (if any) thereon to such person by way of lease for such term, not exceeding ninety-nine years, commencing at or before the date of such lease, as F23[that Minister] shall think proper.

F24[(1A) Where the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (being the appropriate Minister) is considering making a lease in accordance with this section, then the Minister so considering shall consult with the other Minister on the matter before deciding on whether or not to make the lease.]

(2) Every lease made under this section shall (unless the F25[appropriate Minister] is of opinion that such lease should in the public interest be made free of any payment) be made subject to the payment to F26[that Minister] of such moneys, whether by way of fine or other preliminary payment or by way of rent or other periodical payment or by way of royalty on material removed or by all or any of such ways, as F26[that Minister] shall think proper and shall agree upon with the person to whom such lease is made.

F27[(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, no lease reserving a rent or other annual payment exceeding €63,250 a year shall be made under this section without the sanction of the Minister for Finance.]

(4) Every lease made under this section shall contain a power or proviso for re-entry on the breach, non-performance, or non-observance by the lessee of any covenant on the lessee's part (including a covenant for payment of rent, royalty, or other money), condition, or agreement contained therein.

(5) No lease made under this section shall contain any covenant or agreement for the renewal of such lease.

(6) Every lease under this section shall (subject to the provisions of this section) contain such covenants, conditions, and agreements as the F28[appropriate Minister] shall consider proper or desirable in the public interest and shall agree upon with the person to whom such lease is made.

(7) A lease made under this section may include all minerals on or in the demised foreshore to a depth of thirty feet from the surface of such foreshore, together with the right to get and take such minerals, but no such lease shall extend to or include any mines or minerals more than thirty feet below the surface of the demised foreshore.

(8) Whenever an application is made to the F29[appropriate Minister] for a lease under this section, F30[that Minister] may, if he thinks fit, hold a public inquiry in regard to the making of such lease.